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Summary

“Slim,” the consultant said frankly, explaining. “You don’t have a manager’s demeanor.” Nevertheless, Rob could acquire the job despite his lack of qualifications. Rob strode like a manager; Templar had to concede. After that, the Templars began to observe the unwritten work rules. He saw that managers had a particular manner and a managerial style of dressing and speaking. For example, the general manager walk was practiced by certain managers, while others performed the regional manager walk. Templar began practicing the GM walk and, within three months, was promoted over Rob to serve as GM. The difference was that the Templar worked hard to do his job well in addition to having them walk.

“Know his work well, perform it well, and be better than everyone else” is the basic guideline that regulates all the others. Rules exist in all workplaces, and those who learn to use them to their advantage are called “rule players.” The rules are easy to understand and will benefit you immediately. You don’t have to take on another person’s identity to use them. But most importantly, you still need to do your job and do it well to earn a promotion. The rules include:

“Believe What You Say” – (book summary)

You are practicing what is said means doing your job well. If you don’t master your work, following all the other rules will be in vain. Rules to guide your conversation include:

1. “Get your work noticed”: Many employees disappear into their offices, not because they aren’t working hard, but because their work goes unnoticed. This won’t work if you want to move on. The best way to get attention is to transcend the routine. Do something extra. Write an article for the company newsletter to get noticed. Give your boss an uninvited report on making things run more smoothly.

This is a fantastic example of the initiative. Just don’t go overboard and double-check that your idea is viable.

2. “Never sit still” – Too much activity at work is not working, gossiping, talking, socializing, etc. Most people work for paychecks, but rules players want promotions. Spend a little more time practicing the manager’s walk-in preparation for your next job. Keep walking. Participate in constant “secret learning.”

3. “Carve a niche” – Identify and meet an unmet need in your office. Creating your niche will take you from the daily grind and elevate you above other workers. For example, you can create personal profiles of top clients, master a new computer program, or learn mysterious accounting procedures.

4. “Enjoy what you’re doing” – Instead of complaining about your work, why not enjoy it? Tell yourself that work is fun; This is the attitude of successful people.

5. “Never let anyone know how hard you work” – Make the complex look easy. Always look like you’re in control, meet all deadlines, and never seem to break a sweat.

“Always be aware that you are being judged.” – (book summary)

Others will constantly judge you based on how you dress, talk, wear, the car you drive, and the like. It is inescapable. The bottom line is to make sure you are in control so that your judgments are favorable. To see how:

1.” Dress decently” is a rule that must be adhered to. No matter how casual it is, wearing flashy sneakers, jeans, or Hawaiian shirts to the office is a no-no. Workplace attire is not a stage to showcase your artistic sensibilities or bold fashion aesthetics.

2. “No Soft Fish: Develop the Perfect Handshake” – Convey confidence by being the first to approach with a smile and a relaxed, confident air. When introducing yourself, use your name with the formality of a business card. “Hello, my name is John Walker, and I’m the Sales Manager,” for example, goes far further than “Hello, my name is John from Sales.” Repeat the names of the people you know; their names are always music to your ears.

3.” Exude confidence and vitality” – It’s all about how you go into the office in the morning. A rules player walks into the office with a light step, sure that the work ahead will be a bit. Be lively, smooth, and in control, but don’t be in a hurry. Let others struggle with post-traffic pale expressions.

4. “Develop a style that draws attention” – Attractive people are more successful. People will pay attention to you if you have style. Style denotes refinement or class. Choose one item to highlight when developing a personal style, whether Armani suits or an intelligent collection of briefcases. Always buy the best clothes you can afford. When in doubt, dress nicely rather than casually. Wear less jewelry, but only the best.

“Plan”- (book summary)

According to conventional thinking, any route will get you there if you don’t know where you’re going. Rules Players chart their paths to success:

1. “Know What You Want Long-Term” Obviously, everyone should have a long-term plan for success, but many people don’t. Look at every step you need to take along the way, whether relocating to the field, assigning to another department, or managing a particular business unit. Select your desired position and study your industry to determine how to get there. Then set short and medium-term goals as well.

2. “Study the promotion system” – Create a promotion box. Start with the entry-level jobs at your company and aim as high as possible. List all the steps required to climb from point A to point B, including the skills and experience you’ll need.

3. “Know Thyself: Strengths and Weaknesses” – Successful Rules Players want to know the truth about themselves and proactively seek it. They honestly assess their abilities. Please make a list of your benefits and draw it up for a trusted colleague to see. Ask for an honest review. This isn’t meant to be a therapeutic activity. Your goal is to become more aware of your flaws and use that knowledge to your advantage rather than eliminate your fault; this may be unrealistic.

4. “Identify key moments and events”: Save your energy and your best people for the key moments when doing your best matters, like a CEO presentation or an ample sales opportunity. Refine your time; attack at the right time.

5. “Look for Opportunities” – Opportunities rarely come. Recognize each as a rare spot that won’t be around for long. If you were sitting next to your CEO on a plane, would you be prepared to appear bright and informed without being over the top? Or would you panic and become so agitated that you mess up things?

“If you can’t say anything kind, don’t say anything.”- (book summary)

Your words can cause your downfall in the workplace. This happens all the time. Practice saying only positive things. Follow these rules:

1. “Don’t gossip”: Don’t pass on anything negative you hear to someone else. If someone tries to draw you into office gossip, look at them blankly and ask, “What does this have to do with me?” Don’t seem critical of their behavior.

2. “Don’t complain” – Life and work present many unfair situations, but complaining about them never improves. Unless you follow this rule, you will lose the respect of others and may become a magnet for other malcontents.

3. “Praise people sincerely” – Few people can praise well. Practice spontaneous and seemingly unsophisticated compliments. To appear more genuine, be casual. Avoid hyperbole and follow up a compliment with a question that shows genuine interest: “I like your suits. Is it okay if I ask about your tailor?” Make sure your praise isn’t too personal or potentially flirty.

4. “Don’t swear” – No circumstance justifies swearing in the workplace.

5. “Only speak sensitively” – A single insensitive comment can hurt your career. Avoid sexist or racial remarks, even if you want to be humorous. Speak in a way that makes you more trustworthy. Usually, this means taking more petite, not more.

“Take care of yourself.”- (book summary)

As you become successful, you may incur envy and resentment. Study other people’s motives and learn the ethical standards your industry accepts. Commit to the principle that you will never lie or cover up other people’s moral transgressions. Keep records when necessary and receive that others play by different rules. Don’t share the practices with your co-workers to take care of yourself. You have conflicting motives.

“Blend In”

Learning to blend in doesn’t mean following the pack; instead, cultivating the ability to fit in well. First, get to know the culture that reflects your organization’s values. Hear corporate and industry jargon; use it when needed. Know where top managers “stay.”

“The work, in a way, is an irrelevance… Yes, you have to do the work. And yes, you have to do it very well. However, your attention should already be drawn to the next step.”

They fit in means learning the protocols of the office. Develop a relationship with someone who can “brief” you on the unwritten rules of procedure that exist in every office. Your company protocols can be as simple as knowing how to drink wine or beer, but never cocktails at lunch or attending team meetings, even if it’s your day off. Look at the office hierarchy: who does the boss listen to? Who runs the office? Never disapprove of a colleague, and it would only make his co-workers see him as a stranger or an enemy. If the group perceives you as a threat, its members will turn against you.

“Think a Step Ahead”

Leaders have mannerisms and traits that set them apart from the ordinary. For example:

1. “Dress one step ahead”: Don’t dress for your current job. Instead, observe and imitate the splendor of the tailoring of those who sit in corner offices.

2. “Speak One Step Ahead”: Notice how bosses stop to think before they speak, often use “we” instead of “I,” and don’t engage in small talk. Use your behavior as a model. Try to visualize the “big picture.”

3. “Walk the walk” – Develop the right gestures to qualify you for the job you want. Observe and practice other people’s intelligent moves. Learn from other people’s mistakes and look at those worth emulating and copying.

4. “Make people assume you’ve already taken the plunge” – If you act like a heavyweight in your organization, people will gradually accept you. Your way of dressing, speaking, and severe but friendly demeanor indicate that you are a serious player.

5. “Cultivate Diplomacy”: When things get controversial, asking questions is often better than making statements. Develop a sense of when to hide your opinions.

Be aware of your system.

Study your company’s systems and take advantage of the opportunities they present. There’s no use working late to impress someone if it’s not part of your company culture. Identify the people who count. Templar learned this hard when he found the maintenance man in the regional director’s office having coffee. In front of the regional director, the Templar chided the maintainer for not being more attentive to his duties. He later learned that the man was the regional director’s father-in-law. Nagging your boss’s relatives definitely won’t help you get ahead. Know who is who.